Love Those Athletic Highlanders and GIVEAWAY

My Dark
Highlander by Nancy Lee Badger

When you hear
the word Highlander or see it splashed across a book cover, what ideas
instantly come to mind? Scotland, of course, but I bet you think of muscled
warriors draped in plaid wool, or castles full of lairds or chieftains who
steal pretty women from neighboring clans. Romance is part of the charm, while
kidnappings, battles, swords and bagpipes make a Highland story (like mine)
bring these ancient, mystical warriors to life.

I haven’t visited
Scotland yet, but I have experienced the sights, sounds, and flavors of
Scottish life by attending Scottish Highland games and festivals. My recent
excursion to a huge gathering in New England, here in America, has given me
ideas for my romance novels. My next 2nd book in the Kilted Athletes Through Time series, My Dark Highlander,
includes many aspects of both modern and ancients Scottish Highland games and
festivals.

Carrying a
notebook and my trusty camera, I snapped various photos. The New England games
are so popular, this year Thor Bjornsson, ‘The Mountain’ from Game of Thrones,
participated in the heavy athletic events!

To give you a
taste of how I incorporate what I hear and see at the games, please enjoy this
short excerpt, which depicts a moment when my heroine, veterinarian Jenny
Morgan joins her friends.

Excerpt from My
Dark Highlander:

Jenny shook her
head, but was relieved. Danger averted.
There was no need to share her recent time travel adventure with her friend.

Not until I’m sure it really happened.

“Rae, are you
competing soon? I promised to help Dorcas with her tent.”

He managed to
divert his attention from Denise, back to her. “I entered what they call the sheath toss, though where I hail from,
‘tis called a sheaf toss.”

“Really?” Denise
stepped closer, “And what kind of a sport is that?”

Rae crossed his
hands behind his back, stretching the cotton T-shirt tighter across his chest. The
cad.

He knows he looks good.

“Several kilted
men and women, if ye can believe
that, will toss a burlap sack of straw over a high bar, using a pitchfork.”

“Sounds light,
doesn’t it,” Jenny added, “but I heard that they will keep raising the bar far
above the competitors’ heads, until only one person can make it over without
hitting the bar.”

“Can you win?”
Denise asked Rae, completely ignoring Jenny.

“Aye. I be quite
talented in…many things.”

Denise slapped
his forearm, and laughed. “We’ll watch for you. Buy you a drink, if you win.”

“Good luck.
We’ll wait for you near the bleachers,” Jenny added.

His brow
furrowed, so Jenny pointed to the set of raised aluminum seats, near the
Information Tent. When he nodded, she latched on to Denise’s wrist and headed
away.

“I need a drink.
You?” her friend said.

This was only
one example of athletic events held at Highland games and festivals. Enjoy the
photos, as well!

My Dark
Highlander Book blurb

Stranded
in 1603 Scotland, veterinarian Jenny Morgan is eager to get home to New
England. Hiding her ability to read auras, a powerful witch comes to her aid.
All Jenny will miss is the man who stole her heart, one dark night.

Laird
Gavin Sinclair has a missing brother, a murderous father, and a dark-eyed
beauty on his mind. When Jenny returns to a dangerous future, he sets aside his
obligations and searches for her at the New England Highland Games. Jealousy
and lust ravage his dark soul, until he and Jenny fight evil together.

Sheloves
chocolate-chip shortbread, wool plaids wrapped around the trim waist of a
Scottish Highlander, the clang of broadswords, and the sound of bagpipes in the
air. After growing up in Huntington, New York, and raising two handsome sons in
New Hampshire, she moved to North Carolina where she writes full-time. Nancy is
a member of Romance Writers of America, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers,
Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers, Triangle Area Freelancers,
and the Celtic Heart Romance Writers. She
and her family volunteer every year under the Information Tent at the New Hampshire
Highland Games.

The USA Today bestselling author of award-winning Scottish historical romance. Her favorite pastime is exploring Scotland, and taking photos along the way. She also enjoys creating hot, Highland heroes and spirited lasses to drive them mad. She lives in the mountains of North Carolina where she is crafting another Scottish story. Please visit her website at www.vondasinclair.com

To Lindalou...yes, I noticed and have sent a note to Rafflecopter. All I can think of is that I clicked 'duplicate contest' then changed the prize. All future contests (there is a great one starting tomorrow) will be new set-ups.